Finishing outdoor furniture

I like to build rockers and swings out of oak. I used spar urethane on a swing about a yr ago. Now the finish is peeling off and parts of it is mildewing. What would be a good finished in this situation? Is there a sealer I should have used? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-- Emmett, from Georgia

9 replies so far

I would think a wood with natural weather resistance like cedar would be better suited than oak with a finish. Especially something like a swing that gets a lot of wear. As far as finishes go, could you use something like a deck water sealer?

Beside any answers you get here ask Bob Flexner, “Flexner on Finishing” of poplar Woodworking Magazine. Ref, Bob.Flexner@fwmedia.com or Megan.Fitzpatrick@fwmwdia.com She’s the Managing Editor and will contact him for his answer should the direct address fail as he’s now a contributing editor and not on the regular staff.

I’ve made this suggestion before, use paint....clear paint that is. The article I linked goes into a lot more detail, but using the high number oil paint base will look very much like varnish. So much so that I used it on oak window sills I made for our last house. It’s quite inexpensive compared to real outdoor finishes (marine spars, etc.) and will last a lot longer than most urethane based products. If you choose to try this, don’t be put off by the incorrect advice you may be given by those who sell it, and if you just want to try it, buy a quart at a paint store (Lowes only sells gallons of the Olympic product) and test it out. I’ve used it a great deal and it’s never disappointed.

It may be beneficial to use a deck stain or another finish that is weather resistance, because those finishes are ultimately going to give you the most protection for your wood surface in general. Secondly, clear paint is an option that would also most likely withstand your surface and save it from the wear and tear your are experiencing now.

Avoid finishing outdoor furniture with polyure-thane. Most brands of poly-U dry too hard to expand and contract with the wood when it is placed out of doors. After year or so, the finish will peel off. Use spar varnish or a 1:1 mixture of spar varnish and tung oil instead.Thanks.